MovieChat Forums > Starman (1986) Discussion > Starman was interesting, but the premise...

Starman was interesting, but the premise of wandering around wore Thin

posted 9 years ago by Joel_S
2 replies | jump to latest

I think if Starman came out on TV in 1976 instead of 1986 then it would have been a big hit. The premise of people just wandering around America going from small hick town to another small hick town helping out strangers and teaching valuable life lessons seemed to have their heyday in the 1960s, 70s and early 80s. The Fugitive, Route 66, Kung-Fu, The Incredible Hulk all made this format work very well. By the late 80s in Starman's time, this was becoming an outdated concept and I just don't think people were as interested in seeing the same stories rehashed over and over again of people just wandering around helping out locals in trouble and having everything wrapped up in a 1hr episode.

I mean I just saw the next to last episodes, Starscape, they finally find Jenny Hayden, evade Agent George Fox, and then just going wandering around on foot hitch hiking again. I mean seriously, wtf. I think Starman was the last type of show like this back in 1987, I don't remember another series after this one, at least on a major network anyway, doing a series about people wandering around and helping out strangers in some town.

[–] Thomas_Dachsel 8 years ago

I agree that the trope of people wandering around and helping strangers was a bit worn thin by then, but there were a few shows that continued it after the cancellation of Starman (TV) in 1987. "Highway to Heaven" continued till 1989, and in some way (and with some leeway) "Quantum Leap" from the 90s could be counted toward this trope as well. And "Touched by an Angel" lasted well into 2003.

[–] wendycscott9 8 years ago

Quantum Leap ! Yes, how could anyone forget that? Of course, it wasn't always to small towns that Sam leaped, sometimes it was New York, LA, San Francisco, and maybe some others. But it was one of my favorite shows of all time although I never watched it until it was in syndication. But I also loved Starman, perhaps because Robert Hays is so attractive, and the relationship he developed with his son was really sweet. Also, the movie was one of my favorites, so naturally, I was interested in seeing what might have happened next.

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